Prove or disprove the following statement: ‘No cube of an integer has 2 as its units digit.’

This is a very standard proof question for the C3 exam. The first thing that I would do when I see wordy proof statements like this is to make sure I understand what it means. Maybe writing out the statement more simply might help. So for this statement: n^3 never ends in 2. The second thing is just to try a few examples. With this statement, the example you should start with are nice and clear:
1^3=1 2^3=8 3^3=27 4^3=64 5^3=125 So far we haven't seen a number ending in two, and we haven't seen a pattern with the final digits yet, so we must continue.  6^3=216 7^3=343 8^3=512 So by finding a number where the statement is not true, we have found a counter-example so we have disproved it.

Answered by Thomas D. Maths tutor

5754 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Use implicit differentiation to find dy/dx of a curve with equation x^3 + yx^2 = y^2 + 1.


A machine is used to manufacture custom spoilers for two types of sports car( Car A and Car B0. Each day, in a random order, n are produced for Car A and m for Car B. What is the probability that the m spoilers for Car B are produced consecutively?


Integrate Cos^2(x)


Find the equation of the tangent for x = 2cos (2y +pi)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences